USA > Maine > York County > Parsonsfield > A history of the first century of the town of Parsonsfield, Maine > Part 22
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The names of transient persons, even when known, are not intro- duced. . There were many of this floating class abroad. An aged pioneer * remarked that, "Some came, looked, and left. Other's bar- gained, then gave up the trade. Several made openings they never occupied. Not a few were homesick. Quite a number started, sold their improvements, to start anew somewhere else. I can recall," said he, "ten such cases right around me."
[The following address which was delivered by the Historian of Parsonsfield, Harrison Gray Otis Smith Esq., at its Centennial celebration on August 29, 1885, is here pertinent.]
Fellow-Citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen : -
It is my purpose to give a brief history of a place in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts known as Parsonstown.
The territory comprising the town of Parsonsfield was probably the hunting- ground, but not the home of the Ossipee Indians. The last trace of hostile red men in these parts was about 1761, when Chocorua and a younger brave returned . to avenge the blood of their kindred, only to meet tragic deaths.
After the departure of the savages, white hunters roamed through these forests in quest of valuable furs.
During the summer of 1771 Thomas Parsons, who had recently become a resi- dent of Leavittstown, having business in Saco, penetrates the woods guided by a pocket compass. His route lay across Parsonsfield. The beautiful scenery, as seen from our hills, and the fertility of the soil, inspired him with a desire to here make a home and name for himself and children.
From Saco, Mr. Parsons went to Kittery, where he found two parties, each claiming to own all the lands between the Ossipees.
Away back in 1661-Fluellen, Sundy, and Hobinowell, three noted Sagamores, conveyed to Maj. Wm. Phillips of Saco, a tract of land bounded in part as fol- lows: "From the Saco River up the Ossipee to Ossipee Pond, thence to Ossipee
* Thomas Smith.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
Mountain, thence to Humphrey Chadbourne's logging camp." The same Capt. Sundy in 1668 deeded to Francis Small of Kittery, a tract containing twenty square miles, between the Great and Little Ossipee, and from the river Newicha- wannock to the Saco River.
To secure the coveted township, Mr. Parsons must trade with one or both of these parties. According to our town records, he purchased of proprietors claim ing under will of Mrs. Bridgett Phillips, Aug. 5, 1771.
Receiving his grant, Esq. Parsons, with characteristic promptness, employed Joseph Cram of Exeter to survey his township. A full record of the survey has been preserved. It was begun October 11, 1771, and completed the first day of November following, it being the only full survey ever made.
The present boundaries of the town were established. Twelve ranges were run out and divided into two hundred and twenty lots, the corners of which were marked by letters and figures cut on trees.
The controversy between the Phillips and Small heirs remaining unsettled, Mr. Parsons sought and obtained confirmation of his title from proprietors claiming under will of Major Nicholas Shapleigh, who had bought half of Small's interest. This grant is dated at Berwick, Dec. 23, 1774, and to it Mr. Parsons refers in his deeds to individuals.
A committee consisting of James Gowen, Jotham Moulton, Alexander Scam- mell, Philip Hubbard and Nathaniel Remick, on the one part, in the name and in behalf of proprietors holding under the will of Major Nicholas Shapleigh, and Thomas Parsons on the other part-agree that after reserving to themselves eighty lots of one hundred acres each, marked on the plan; three lots for the sole use of the first settled Congregational minister; three for the use of the ministry ; three for the support of a Grammar School; and one for a mill,-they give and grant all the claim, title, interest and estate said proprietors have in all the remainder and residue of said lands to him, the said Thomas Parsons, his associates, their heirs, and assigns forever.
The conditions are that Parsons shall settle a specified number of families, reserve land for roads, erect a meeting-house and procure the preaching of the gospel within the time and in the manner set forth.
Another record gives the names of thirty-nine individuals who were interested in the estate of Major Shapleigh at this date. Their Parsonstown property, con- sisting of eighty reserved lots, was soon after divided among them. The Shap- leigh proprietors as such, thereafter ceased to have any interest within our borders.
Individual proprietors conveyed lots of land, which fell to their share, early as August 26, 1777, while the names of others may be found on our lists forty years later.
These transactions explain the historic phrase "Thomas Parsons and thirty- nine others," and show that Parsonstown was wild land, without organization up to 1785.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
Early in the spring of 1775, Eben and John Moore left Scarborough to make homes in the wilderness. Penetrating several miles beyond any known settle- ment, they pitched upon a swell of land in the southeast corner of Parsons' pur- chase. Each cleared a little space, built a log cabin, and prepared for larger farm operations the next season. In June, John joined the army investing Bos- ton, returning to his home at the close of a year's service. Eben left in August for his wife and child, who arrived in October.
The same spring, but a little later, according to agreed statements of the old pioneers, John and Gideon Doe, searching for a desirable spot where to plant their roof trees, espied from the hills of New Hampshire a mountain slope, and at its foot a lake of sparkling water. They viewed the landscape and ceased to wander.
Camps covered with bark were hastily erected. Preparations for housekeep- ing pushed so vigorously, that before the close of summer, wives and three chil- dren were welcomed to their new homes.
Tradition gives to Jere Avery the honor of being the fifth pioneer. He came in 1776, settled on the western side of Ricker's Mountain, where he lived till 1806, after which I have no trace of the family.
George Kezar, the noted hunter, who brained the bear and belled the wolf, brought his wife and three children to his favorite hunting camp near the Kezar meadow, January, 1778.
During March of the same year, Amos Blazo, in quest of a lodge in some vast solitude, discovered this elevation, secured a title and commenced operations. He claimed to rank as the seventh comer.
Only a few weeks, or months after Blazo, three brothers, Gilman, Samuel and John Lougee, selected forest farms where their descendants still have homes, bringing in or finding wives when prepared.
The deed of Thomas Parsons to Samuel Pease, now the town farm, is dated September 15, 1777. Mr. Pease made ready a home for his wife and daughter, who came November, 1779.
I conclude that these eleven households, comprising eleven men, nine women, one maiden, seven imported and seven native born children, made up the whole population of Parsonstown at the beginning of the year 1780.
As the Revolutionary War drew to a close, many returned soldiers sought homes in the woods of Maine. Parsonstown was a favorite locality. Other immi- grants joined them, increasing the population to about three hundred at the time of organization.
For purposes of taxation, wild land was at first valued at about fifty dollars per lot, while the personal and real estate of citizens averaged some two hundred dollars each. As all the gore and one hundred and sixty of the two hundred and twenty lots were still covered with primitive forest, I assume a valuation of from twenty to twenty-five thousand dollars.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
In conclusion I will say that I have gathered and arranged some of the facts and traditions connected with our early history, that we may save from oblivion the names, deeds, and privations of the honored pioneers who laid the founda- tions of Parsonsfield.
RESIDENTS, 1785.
Tradition, considered reliable, says, there were sixty-two names of resident tax-payers in the first list. Their names, so far as they have been traced, and place of residence, are here given :
Jere Avery, lived west of Ricker's Mountain.
John Allen, North Road.
John Ames, near Province Pond.
Amos Blazo, a few rods west of R. T. Blazo's.
Robert Brown.
George Bickford, South Road, Bickford farm.
Josiah Colcord, Middle Road, farm of H. W. Colcord.
Job Colcord, Middle Road Village, tavern. James Champeon, Mountain Road, R. Bisbee farm Edmund Chase, Mountain Road, G. Tarbox. John Doe, the Alvah Doe farm.
Gideon Doe, the W. K. Doe farm.
Levi Doe.
John Doe Jr., near the Dodge house.
Michael Floyd, Gibbs farm, moved to Porter.
John Fox, North Road, west of Lougee Schoolhouse.
Edward Fox, North Road, west of Lougee Schoolhouse.
Joseph Granville, west of Lord's Mills, in field.
Dudley Hilton, South Road, A. S. Hilton farm.
David Hobbs, near Effingham line.
Samuel Hobbs, south side of town.
Jonathan Kinsman, top of Merrill's Hill, S. Merrill.
George Kezar, in woods between Cornish and Kezar Falls. Solomon Keniston, Hasty farm. John Libby, North Road, near Cemetery.
Gilman Lougee, North Road, Gilman Lougee farm.
John Lougee, North Road, J. H. Foss farm. Samuel Lougee, East Parsonsfield, S. Lougee farm. James, David and Caleb Marston, southwest corner of town. James Morrison, South Road, S. Chellis farm.
Moses Mighels, south part of town, John Boothby.
David Mudgett, near Mudgett's Pond.
John Moore, southeast corner of town.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
Eben Moore, South Road, near Newfield.
Enoch Neal, Middle Road, west of village.
Walter Neal, Middle Road, west of village.
Thomas Parsons, proprietor, on Emerson, now Elmwood farm, owned by J. W. Cook.
Thomas Parsons Jr., east part of town, Wilson farm.
Col. Joseph Parsons, above Wiggin schoolhouse, G. P. Davis.
Elisha Piper, South Road, Samuel Piper.
Samuel Pease, South Road, present Town-farm.
Samuel Pease Jr., South Road, present Town-farm.
Joseph Pease, South Road, on T. W. Burnham farm.
Zebulon Pease, South Road, Lorenzo Pease farm.
Asa Pease, West Parsonsfield, top of hill.
Josiah Pease, above Dearborn Mill, below Asa's.
Samuel Page, south part of town, on J. Knight farm.
Taylor Page, south of Cedar Mountain, W. E. Moulton farm. Philip Paine, Porter Road, Simon Brown farm.
Jonathan Towle, North Road, where Varney lives. William Sanborn, near Emerson schoolhouse.
Jacob Scagel, Mountain Road, north of Cedar Mountain.
Lot Wedgewood, North Road village.
Jesse Wedgewood, between Middle and South Roads.
Samuel Weeks, East Parsonsfield.
Benjamin Smith, Blaisdell Mills.
INCIDENTS.
The early settlers of Parsonsfield often related the history of how they came to their forest homes, what they did not have, and how they managed to subsist and enjoy life.
Eben Moore moved his wife and child from Saco. A road had been cut to Perry's Corner, in Limerick. From this point Mr. Moore brought all his family and farm fixings on his shoulders, to his clearing, a distance of more than three miles.
Mr. Jonathan Garland, of Hampton, in 1792, bought three hundred acres of wild land for his son Samuel (known as Deacon Garland), who spent the next season making preparations for his wife. In April, 1794, the deacon and his wife, each on horseback, started from Hampton at four in the morning, and reached their new home the evening of the same day -a distance of sixty miles. The husband was loaded with
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
sundry household articles, the wife took upon her lap her son David, born the previous September.
Amos Blazo, lacking a vessel in which to boil his dinner, brought an old style iron pot from Pittsfield, lashed to his back. That same big- bellied utensil served three generations. Mr. Blazo, in company with Jere Avery, went twenty miles on foot, returning next day, each with a bushel of meal.
Gilman Lougee made a trip to Gilmanton, horseback, and brought home a few apple trees, one of them is still bearing fruit.
Eben Gould came in the spring of 1796, equipped with gun, ax and pack, and worked on till late in autumn. Before the close of the sea- son he found himself without shoes, and neither shoemaker or leather to supply the want. After a heavy snow fall, he bound up his feet as best he could and started for Saco. At places along the route his foot-prints were mistaken for the tracks of some huge wild animal. Hunters gave chase, but did not overtake him.
The next spring, after John and Gideon Doe moved into town, one of the brothers shouldered a bushel of meal in Rochester and brought it to his home, and when coming through Wakefield, added a half- bushel of seed potatoes to his load.
EARLY RECORDS.
The earliest town records of Parsonsfield were arranged and copied by James Hart, who was town clerk from 1789 and onwards. They are plainly written and well preserved. On the first page is a plan of the township. Twelve ranges are divided into two hundred and twen- ty lots, which average not far from one hundred and fifty acres each. The ranges are numbered from the south, and the lots back and forth, beginning at the southwest corner. An original deed now before me, says, lot two hundred and six, twelfth range. Some one changed the starting point to the northeast corner. Another method, said to be Parsons' plan, was to name the range and then count the lots from the west.
The territory north of the twelfth range is called the Gore ; a strip across the north part of the town about three-fourths of a mile wide on an average. The term gore is now applied to that part east of Porter
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
Bridge. "Sold to Patrick Tracy " is written thereon. In 1794, it is taxed to the heirs of Patrick Tracy. Tracy's heirs or assigns held most of it late as 1817.
Land for highways four rods wide, is reserved on every range, and every fourth check. Here and there our present highways follow these reservations, but the surface of the town is so broken that these road- ways were either exchanged for more suitable pass ways across the lots, or abandoned to the owners of lots from which the roadway was taken.
A central lot of ten acres, set apart for public buildings, is on the northern slope of Cedar Mountain. This is the territorial center of Parsonsfield. It is now part of the farm of Hardy Merrill, and was taken out of the Stackpole lot.
The return of the surveyor, found on the second page of records, tells us that this township was granted August 5, 1771, to Thomas Parsons and his associates, by proprietors claiming under will of Mrs. Bridgett Phillips. Surveyed by Joseph Cram, of Exeter, who began the 11th of October, 1771, and completed the same the second day of November following.
We have no public records, or private papers of Mr. Parsons, telling of transactions from the close of this survey to August, 1774, when the Shapleigh proprietors voted to relinquish their claim to Thomas Parsons, upon conditions specified in their grant to him, December 23, 1774.
DEED.
At a meeting of the Shapleigh proprietors, holden at Kittery, August, 1774, a committee of five was appointed and authorized to convey to Thomas Parsons, certain interests in the territory now Parsonsfield. The parties met at Berwick, in December, and executed a deed or agreement. The essential part of the lengthy document is as follows :
" This agreement made this 23d day of December, 1774, between the committee acting in behalf of the Proprietors holding under the heirs of Major Nicholas Shapleigh, and pursuant to a vote of said pro- prietors, on the one part, and Thomas Parsons, of Leavit's town on the other part."
The northern boundary is the Great Ossipee River, the western, the New Hampshire line. The others are not given, but conform to the sur-
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
vey made by Joseph Cram in 1771. The committee say that the grant is made, that the lands may become useful to themselves and the public. Eighty lots marked on the plan, are reserved to the proprietors, not to be taxed till improved.
There are also reserved three lots for the sole use of the first settled Congregational minister, and three for the use of the ministry. Three for the support of a Grammar school, and one to the man who would erect the first saw and grist mill on the selected privilege, now known as Lord's Mills.
Parsons was to settle twelve families before the last day of March following, each with a house eighteen feet square, and three acres of cleared land. He was to settle forty families within four years, and in seven years erect and board a meeting-house thirty by forty, and have a minister settled. In case of war, time should be reckoned from return of peace. If Parsons did not fulfill the agreement as specified, the township should revert to the proprietors.
The proprietors agree to defend any suits that may be brought by adverse claimants.
This agreement is signed by Jotham Moulton, Alexander Scammel, and Philip Hubbard, committee for proprietors, and Thomas Parsons, for himself. Recorded Book 43, Folios 188, 189, 190, York County Records. Daniel Moulton, Register of Deeds.
PETITION.
Having concluded the foregoing contract, it is evident that Mr. Par- sons bestirred himself to fulfill its terms. Early the next spring, men , entered to prepare homes, so that before the close of the Revolutionary War some forty families were living within our borders. Their names, time and place of settlement, are given elsewhere, therefore, omitted here.
It has been the custom in Maine, to first organize, as a plantation, and when population has increased, seek an act of incorporation as a a town, but Parsonsfield stepped over the plantation stair and sent in the following petition :- *
* Historical Society.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
To the Honorable, the Senate and the Honorable, the House of Representatives in General Court assembled :-
January, 1785. Humbly shew the subscribers, Inhabitants of a certain tract of land situate between the rivers of grate and little Ossipee, In the county of York. Which was granted by the proprietors of Shapleigh claim (so called) to Thomas Parsons and associates. That at grate labor and expense, to have sever- ally settled said tract.
And as far as in them lies, complied with the terms of the grant. But by reason of their unincorporated state, are not in a capacity to raise money, necessary for repairing roads and support the preaching of the Gospel and a school, nor answer- ing the demands that may arise for their Proportion of the Public Taxes of the state and contenent, Whereby they are deprived of the Power of advancing their own interests as a community, and are exposed to the jurisdiction of towns that are incorporated. Therefore they Pray that the said tract of land may be erected into a Township within the following bounds, viz : Beginning at Grate Ossipee River where the Province line (so called) Between New Hampshire and the late Province of Maine crosses said river. Thence running south eight degrees west by said line to the top of a mountain, three quarters of a mile south of a Pond called Province Pond. Thence east, eight degrees south by a spotted line to an elm tree near a small frogpond. Thence North eight deg. East by a spotted line to the branch of the Grate Ossipee River.
Thence westerly by said river to the first mentioned bound. Which includes the land represented by the PLAN annexed to said grant recorded in the county aforesaid, containing by estimation thirty six square English miles, by the name of Parsonsfield, and that the inhabitants of said tract may be erected into a body Politick and corporate, to have succession during time, and invested with all the powers. Enfranchised with all the rights, Priviledges and Immunities that towns in said Commonwealth Hold, and your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray.
Edmon Chase
John Brown
Robert Brown jr. Samuel Hobbs
Joseph Maloon
Benj. Bickford
David Mudget
Wm. Keons
John Libby
Joseph Granvill
David Hobbs
Enoch Libby
Thomas Parsons
James Hobbs.
Jona Kinsman
Solomon Keniston
Walter Neal
Jacob League
Gideon Doe
James Marston
Moses Chase
Stephen Dutch
David Marston
Samuel Maloon
Samuel Dalton
Jona Towle Caleb Marston
Lot Wedgewood
Jacob Schagel jr.
Job Colcord
Samuel Lougee Gilman Lougee
Robert Brown
Winthrop Wiggin
Dudley Hilton
Josiah Colcord Tayler Page
Andrew Hilton Jere Avery
Levi Towle
Wm. Sanborn
Andrew Tibbets
Samuel Hobbs
Benjamin Smith
Samuel Page James Thompson John Doe
James Berry John Allen
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
It is probable that Enoch Libby and Benjamin Bickford moved to Porter soon after signing this petition, and that William Keons, Jacob League, Joseph Maloon, James Thompson and Andrew Tibbets were transient residents. The names of George Kezar, John Lougee, Samuel Weeks, George Bickford, Elisha Piper, James Morrison, Joseph Pease, Samuel Pease, Samuel Pease jr., Moses Mighels, Eben and John Moore, known to be residents, are not found on the petition. Apparently, the carrier did not go down the South Road.
INCORPORATION.
In accordance with the request made in the foregoing petition, an act of incorporation passed the House of Representatives March 5, 1775, and the Senate, March 9. It was signed by Samuel A. Otis, Speaker, Samuel Adams, President, and approved by Thomas Cushing, Governor.
The preamble recites the substance of the petition, fixing the boun- daries as specified therein. Simon Frye, Esq., of Fryeburg, was author- ized to call the first meeting for the choice of Town Officers. The meeting was called August 29, at the dwelling-house of Thomas Parsons. Mr. Frye opened the meeting by reading a copy of the act of incorporation and of the notice.
Thomas Parsons was chosen Moderator. John Doe, Town Clerk. Thomas Parsons, John Doe and Gilman Lougee, Selectmen. Also other officers required by law. No other business was transacted.
The legal voters of the infant town, who, for the first time mnet, accept- ed and entered upon the privileges and duties of enfranchised citizens of the Commonwealth, were emigrants from localities far apart. Com- parative strangers to each other, self-reliant, independent freemen, men, having fixed opinions and widely different beliefs.
There was no business centre. No man or men, whose controlling influence reached from border to border. Instead, neighborhood lead- ers, whose plans and purposes were often local.
Another disturbing element was religious intolerance, from which no sect or community had, up to this time, been freed. Denominations were arrayed against each other much as political parties of today are. Town-meetings were frequent and often inharmonious. Passing votes
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
at one, rescinding at the next, voting to do, then choosing a committee to neglect doing.
PARSONS' EXPLANATION.
Diligent search has been made for the private papers of Thomas Parsons, Esq., without success. A verbal explanation made in old age throws light on the enlargement of the grant of six miles square. He is remembered as saying, * " After I secured the grant in August, 1771, I went directly to Exeter, engaged the services of Joseph Cram and brought him here with me. We started from the Ossipee River, follo w ing the New Hampshire line south, six miles. Finding ourselves in a- swamp, unable to see anywhere, we concluded to climb the mountain just ahead and look around. From the summit to the east of us,. a long and apparently fertile valley was open to our view. 'Just the place for a town line' was the unanimous decision. So, making a corner on the top of Province Mountain we went east till we came to a line of trees recently cut. This, we knew, was Sullivan's town line, or west- ern boundary of Limerick. Thence, we ran north till we reached the river."
This is how Parsonsfield happens to cover sixty-four instead of thirty- six square miles.
* Gamaliel E. Smith in personal conversation with Thomas Parsons, Esq.
CHAPTER III.
THE OUTLOOK.
IF we stand upon our central mountain some clear summer day and look westward, our vision is bounded by mountains whose springs feed the Merrimac River. Northward fifty miles away, the White Moun- tains and lesser peaks rise to meet the clouds. Looking eastward the eye rests upon numerous hill tops around and beyond Sebago Lake. Then turning a little southward we get glimpses of the Atlantic Ocean and the intervening plain. The distant prospect is sublime, the nearer view beautiful, for, all around may be seen white farmhouses with ample barns, green fields and thrifty orchards, busy farmers and herds of cattle, a wood lot near every home, and forest trees of every variety crowning the ridges. We can trace winding streams, white roads, and miles of stone fence. Nestling villages with church and schoolhouse are in plain sight. Such is the landscape as seen today.
One hundred and eleven years ago the distant outlook was the same, but how different the nearer view.
Then wandering hunters and trappers were the only human beings within the limits of our fair town. From the hill tops, nothing but an unbroken forest could be seen. Close inspection revealed tufts of grass here and there, and a few green meadows where beaver ponds once had been.
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